Destin Harbor could be declared an emergency

Boat captains have long been pleading with Destin city officials to clear the mouth of the choked-up Destin Harbor and navigation channel before boats become trapped.

KATHY HARRISON / The Destin Log

By MATT ALGARIN / The Destin Log

Published: Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 05:06 PM.

DESTIN — The harbor is about to be in a state of emergency.

“I was advised that we will need to ask the council to do, as we did the last time, a declaration of emergency,” City Manager Maryann Ustick said last week. “What that does is expedite the permitting process.”

Boat captains have been pleading with city officials to clear the mouth of the choked-up Destin Harbor and navigation channel before boats become trapped. The navigation channel was last dredged in 2012 as part of an emergency project, according to officials.

The Army Corps of Engineers performs maintenance dredge work in the harbor and the navigation channel, but city leaders say budget cuts have led the Corps to focus most of its attention on “deep-water ports,” which excludes Destin.

Given the need to dredge sooner rather than later, especially with the tourism season coming, Ustick said she has been working with the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council to secure funding. They plan to request funds from county commissioners in the next few weeks.

The city is conducting surveys near the Marler Bridge and mouth of the harbor to determine how serious the problem is and which areas need the most attention.

City leaders will meet again Monday, and Ustick said they probably will be presented with a resolution to approve a state of emergency.

While dredging would be an immediate fix, it’s not the ultimate solution, Mayor Sam Seevers said last week.

“These short-term fixes are not the solution; the stabilization of Norriego Point is what’s going to stop this,” she said.

Destin Log Staff Writer Matt Algarin can be reached at 850-654-8446 or malgarin@thedestinlog.com. Follow him on Twitter @DestinLogMatt.

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“I was advised that we will need to ask the council to do, as we did the last time, a declaration of emergency,” City Manager Maryann Ustick said last week. “What that does is expedite the permitting process.”

Boat captains have been pleading with city officials to clear the mouth of the choked-up Destin Harbor and navigation channel before boats become trapped. The navigation channel was last dredged in 2012 as part of an emergency project, according to officials.

The Army Corps of Engineers performs maintenance dredge work in the harbor and the navigation channel, but city leaders say budget cuts have led the Corps to focus most of its attention on “deep-water ports,” which excludes Destin.

Given the need to dredge sooner rather than later, especially with the tourism season coming, Ustick said she has been working with the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council to secure funding. They plan to request funds from county commissioners in the next few weeks.

The city is conducting surveys near the Marler Bridge and mouth of the harbor to determine how serious the problem is and which areas need the most attention.

City leaders will meet again Monday, and Ustick said they probably will be presented with a resolution to approve a state of emergency.

While dredging would be an immediate fix, it’s not the ultimate solution, Mayor Sam Seevers said last week.

“These short-term fixes are not the solution; the stabilization of Norriego Point is what’s going to stop this,” she said.

Destin Log Staff Writer Matt Algarin can be reached at 850-654-8446 or malgarin@thedestinlog.com. Follow him on Twitter @DestinLogMatt.